A mid-Cretaceous pycnidia, Palaeomycus epallelus gen. et sp. nov., in Myanmar amber

ABSTRACT

Five separate epiphyllous pycnidia on the remains of an angiosperm leaf in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber are described as Palaeomycus epallelus gen. et sp. nov. The new taxon is characterized by dark, superficial, globose, uniloculate pycnidia with a multicellular wall of aggregated cells, a wide circular ostiole and conidiophores aligned in closely packed rows with one or more terminal branches bearing ovoid to ellipsoidal, hyaline, aseptate conidia. This fossil represents the oldest pycnidia found on an angiosperm leaf.

KEYWORDS:

• Fossil leaf spot fungus
• conidia
• angiosperm leaf

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.